Moroccans Living Abroad Discriminated Against in Employment

Rabat – 23% of young Moroccans living abroad (MREs) reported discrimination in foreign job markets, and 36% said that they had trouble pursuing their studies, according to a study by the Ministry in Charge of Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs.

The study, undertaken throughout 2016, surveyed 2146 MREs aged 15 to 30 living in Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and the Netherlands. Of those questioned, 63% were holders of a baccalaureate degree and 80% were students.

The ministry also found that 75% of MREs surveyed lived with their families and reported a need to find individual housing.

The report also demonstrated a strong attachment felt by MREs to their homeland. 68.8% of the 2146 had “mastered [Morocco’s] national languages,” and 75% visited Morocco at least once a year, with three fourths of these trips longer than 16 days.

The young MREs also showed strong desires to return to Morocco, 62% to make investments, 48% to find employment, and 50% to retire.

The ministry noted that 85% of the young MREs questioned would prefer their partner to be Moroccan.